US government denies intending to 'undermine' Brazil's elections

The U.S. State Department issued a statement Saturday denying any intent to interfere with Brazil's upcoming elections. The department characterized a planned visit by U.S. officials to Brasília from July 27-30 as a pre-scheduled trip to engage with government authorities, religious leaders, and civil society representatives.

The stated purpose of the visit was to discuss electoral integrity, religious freedom, and freedom of expression. "Any insinuation that this trip would be a 'maneuver' to undermine the election of a democratic nation is a baseless lie," the statement read. This clarification comes after reports in The Washington Times, citing U.S. and Brazilian officials, suggested the visit's objective was to cast doubt on the integrity and transparency of Brazil's electoral process.

Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Itamaraty, had previously denied visas to Assistant Secretary Riley M. Barnes and Deputy Assistant Secretary Samuel Samson, both State Department officials. The Superior Electoral Court (TSE) confirmed that the U.S. embassy had inquired about the visit but did not provide specific details about the meeting's agenda. The TSE stated that the schedule could not be set due to the judiciary's recess.

Earlier in June, TSE President Kassio Nunes Marques met with ambassadors to explain Brazil's electronic voting system and defended its security. The TSE indicated it would invite U.S. diplomacy to a new meeting with ambassadors scheduled for August 17.

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Any insinuation of this trip being a 'maneuver' to undermine the election of a democratic nation is a baseless lie.